Forty-nine women, who were abducted earlier in the week near Maiduguri in Nigeria’s Borno state by Boko Haram, have on Friday regained their freedom.
The release occurred on Friday after a state official paid a ransom for their release, as confirmed by two victims and a local leader.
According to Reuters, the women were abducted on their farms on Tuesday morning in Shuwaei Kawuri village on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
“We were all released at midnight after Boko Haram said our families secured our release after meeting their demands,” one of the victims said.
Initially, the militants had demanded a ransom of 3 million naira ($3,891.86). However, negotiations resulted in the payment of 1 million naira by a state official to secure their freedom.
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The local traditional leader, who remained anonymous due to unauthorized speaking privileges, provided this information.
The kidnapping amidst the ongoing inter-insurgent strife between ISWAP and Boko Haram, which has led to killing and surrender of many terrorists.
According to Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), four key Boko Haram commanders, 13 main fighters, and a total of 45 family members, laid down their arms and surrendered to troops in Cross Kauwa and Baga of Kukawa LGA, between 14 and 15 August, 2023.
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The Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, in a statement earlier this week, said that so far a total of 6,900 repentant insurgents were processed for “Disarmament, Demobilisation, Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reintegration (DDDRRR) programme known as the “Borno Model”.”
